Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. They are the property of Hajime Kanzaka and Shoko Yoshinaka.

Chapter Three

When Zelgadis returned home he found that he had to begin his preparations for the evening's ball immediately. He still didn't want to go, but had decided very firmly that he would wear his red army coat. He didn't know if his mother expected him to wear the latest fashion, and he didn't want to find out.

Plus, he had been feeling quite cantankerous since his meeting with Lina that afternoon. Why was she suddenly so angry with him? It had to have something to do with money. Did the blasted woman think he was after her dowry now? He shook his head, as he didn't believe it could be something that foolish. The girl had to have more sense than that. He agreed with her that the whole quest for fortune was a vain one. Did she not understand?

Zelgadis came down the stairs to meet his mother and brother right before his mother sent the butler to fetch him. Zel thought his timing was extremely lucky, as she would have been even more irritable if he had made her wait. She eyed his red coat, but said nothing as they went down the steps to the carriage. Zel decided the reason she had no objection was either because she didn't know whether or not he ought to be wearing it out to a social function (because of some sort of military rule), or it was because she was proud that he was a colonel.

The Ut Copt mansion was lit up brightly for the ball that evening, and Zelgadis saw that the old place held far more charm for him than the estate of his mother and brother. Maybe it was because he knew that there would be nothing but a warm welcome for him here from Lady Filia and Lord Valgaav. They wouldn't harass him to be wed. In any case, he was certain he would get away from the ball that evening without having been lectured to about his lack of bride – or so he thought.

Lady Filia greeted them as cordially as a queen, and his mother inquired about the 'special friend' that the ball was being held to honour. Filia told her that the young lady had not been introduced to anyone in the neighbourhood, and that very few people even knew her identity.

"She's going to come down once everyone is settled," Filia said brightly. "She'll come down the broad staircase, and make such a sensation. I know it. I know you'll be most happy to become acquainted with her Colonel Greywers," Filia directed at Zelgadis with a knowing smile.

Zel smiled back, but had no idea what the woman was hinting. As soon as he thought it would be safe to get away he moved towards the only unoccupied corner of the room and took up watch. A servant soon came by and offered him a glass of champagne, which he took gratefully. He didn't feel at all awkward secluding himself in this way, but he knew that his mother would not approve. He thought of engaging someone in conversation, just to save himself from her bad temper, but he found himself thinking only of Lina and her defiant attitude. He liked that attitude so much that he found he had lost the will to please his mother. However, it wasn't long before another army man found his way over to Zelgadis. Zelgadis knew him only as Zangulus, and found his company tolerable enough as to not mind sharing his corner with him. For one thing – the man didn't talk much.

"How did you get suckered into attending tonight?" Zangulus asked taking a long drink from his own glass.

"The Ut Copt's are old family friends," he said simply, leaving his mother out of the conversation, even though she was the only reason why. "And you?"

"My wife likes society. She simply had to come and see who Lady Filia's special debutant was."

Zel rolled his eyes thinking again of Lina's distain towards a marriage of fortune, and that was what introducing a debutant was all about.

Suddenly, it seemed that the time had come for Lady Filia to introduce her little friend as the butler stood at the top of the stairs and said in a clear ringing voice to the assembly, "Ladies and Gentlemen if I could have your attention please."

Zel found that he could not even look at the stair case the young lady was supposed to be descending from. He turned his back and looked away as the announcer finished his rapturous description of the lady.

At last he finished with "I introduce to you – Miss Inverse."

Zel flung his head around, but unfortunately the young woman was no longer on the stairs, but immersed in a crowd.

"Excuse me," Zel said moving away from Zangulus.

"Ridiculous," Zangulus said under his breath, but Zelgadis heard him.

Zel didn't care. Could it be Lina that Lady Filia was introducing that night? Could she have really come to something like this and allowed herself to be introduced to the crowd in that way? To think, he had found her that morning poaching pheasant.

Zel pushed through the crowd, but was unable to see her red head. Had she already been whisked off somewhere? Zel walked with long strides through different circles, searching for her red red hair, but couldn't see anyone like that. Soon, people were clearing the dance floor to make room for a couple. Zel saw Lord Valgaav take a young girl of pale violet out and begin a dance. Other couples soon joined them, but as Zel watched he couldn't find Lina among them.

At last he spotted Rezo and joined him. "I missed the big introduction. Which one is Miss Inverse?"

Rezo shook his head disdainfully. "You really did miss it didn't you? There she is dancing with Lord Valgaav. Did you ever see such a woman? I don't know why Lady Filia has decided to take that girl under her wing. The Inverses are such a low connection. I mean, of course the girl is worth twenty thousand pounds, but her father was in trade for pity sake."

Zelgadis looked out on the dance floor. The girl Lord Valgaav was dancing with – yes, she was very lovely – but not half as lovely as Lina dancing in the firelight. She was elegant, but he found that he could not believe that Lina would not outmatch her in that if Lina put her mind to it. Were they related?

"Do you know her first name?" Zel asked nonchalantly.

"I believe her name is Luna, and if you will please direct your attention to your dance card – I think you have the next dance with her," Rezo said.

Zel had ignored that damn thing when his mother gave it to him, but he saw that he was dancing with her for the next round. He cursed softly.

"So, you don't want to dance with her either? I'm up after you and admit freely that I don't relish the idea. If I must dance with a daughter of Titus Inverse I would much prefer the younger. Still mother will expect one of us to move into courting position since Luna's so popular with Lady Filia and has twenty thousand pounds," he paused. "How about if you marry her Zelgadis? It will save me a tremendous amount of trouble and you'll never see her anyway – you'll always be away on assignment – and twenty thousand certainly is something."

"What was it you said about the younger sister?" Zel asked, ignoring his brother's usual snobbery.

"Oh, nothing at all. I just happened to meet her younger sister at some point when I was in town last year. I hear she's worth twenty as well. Ah, well, it's of little importance."

With that Zel found his mother approaching the two of them, seemingly with a purpose. She pulled Zelgadis aside and told him in a way that couldn't possibly have been misinterpreted that she expected him to begin courting – and eventually to be married to – Luna Inverse. Rezo proudly listened in on the conversation. Zel thought he looked grateful that their mother had not decided that he was the better choice. Zel found his temper on the rise, and begged to be excused as he had better not keep the lady waiting – the song had ended.

His mother let him go easily enough, but Zel was not content. This was enough to drive a man over the edge.

Zel found himself bowing to Miss Inverse and taking her in his arms. She didn't look much like Lina in feature or in colouring, except perhaps for her eyes. Her eyes were as red as Lina's and seemed to have a glint of something in them – not the defiance that Lina carried – but left him with a feeling as though he were being examined. In the end, he decided that she was measuring him up to see if he was good enough for her.

That night Zelgadis came home a little drunker than usual. He didn't usually drink like that when he went to social functions, but tonight he had found it to be necessary evil if he was going to survive. It seemed that Luna did not find him objectionable at all. He did not make conversation, but she seemed to enjoy that he kept his mouth shut. Instead, she gave him the feeling that he were a piece of meat out on display. He knew that women felt that way sometimes, that men were only interested in them for their outward appearance, but he had never had cause to feel that way himself. It seemed to him that she was deciding how well he would look in a portrait on the mantle – and that her conclusion was that he would look fabulous.

His mother had spoken to him again on the way home about his beginning his courtship to her immediately, and her manner indicated that if he did not do this he might as well not ever come back to the estate. Zel didn't care if he ever came back to the mansion, but he did care if his life were devoid of peace. There was no possible way that she would simply let him leave and find his own path in life. Even though she acted now like she could disown him, he found that he didn't believe she would actually stick to that. He would never have the peace from her that he sought.

As he stood on the balcony after the household had gone to bed, he stood with another drink in hand. He found himself feeling extraordinarily trapped. How could he work his way out of this one?

The sky was very bright, and the moon shone clear as crystal. It lit up the world around the manse and showed him one other thing – a tiny line of smoke climbing into the atmosphere. He knew there was no house or cottage there – it was just British wilderness out there – and the gypsies had found another place to camp.

Suddenly, an idea came into his head. Perhaps he would have dismissed this idea out of hand if he had not been fairly drunk, but as he was half way to becoming pickled to the gills – it seemed like a great idea. He just had to find Lina and propose the idea to her.

He would go right now.